Chương 134: To The Crypts

The field trip was coming in about a week, and the students were excited for it. Classes were all well and good, but it couldn't be denied that young students would look out for actual excitement, the kind that a field trip out into the more thrilling areas of Rhel could provide. So it was that while Ryland conducted a few more classes with receptive students and no further mishaps, he understood rather easily that his class wasn't exactly the main attraction anymore. If it had ever been.

"I can't wait, sir," Viren said excitedly as they were touring the rooftop of the Curio Hall.

"This is basically like an excursion." Of course, just because the field trip was coming up didn't mean they were all relaxing and resting easy till then. For the time being, they were enjoying the curated museum within the institute grounds. Just further proof that the Rhellians very much sought to honour their history.

"On excursions, we usually have friends and people we can trust," Acrypha pointed out. Most of the other Arcoryx students all stared at her. Bulgon, one of Ryland's former students who had been invited to the exchange semester, gave her a very scathing look.

"Yes, I'm aware you all will be there," she said, entirely unaffected by their combined glares.

"But we won't be alone. There will be the Rhellians, and then the Jurain and the Kuldoreans too."

"She's right," one of the second-year students said.

"It's not the same." Someone laughed.

"You're one to talk, Sheera. You're not even a part of the Excursion Club." That brought a round of laughter. And though it appeared they were enjoying strolling through the various exhibits on display, a lot of their minds were elsewhere. Specifically on the upcoming field trip into the ancient Drowning Crypts of Rhel. Ryland eyed one section of the museum that displayed the internment of old Rhellians.

The old mural showed dead bodies being carried to a river, which then flowed underground, where priests and priestesses mummified bodies in clay before placing them all around the Crypts. There was a great deal of complication in the process, despite how simply their Rhellian tour guide explained to the students. For instance, where one was to be placed within the Crypts depended on a great deal of factors.

While Ryland wouldn't necessarily say Rhel experienced great divides in societal classes, there was still a hierarchy that had to be respected, if only for structural and organization purposes. One of the ways this hierarchy came into play was in how and where people were interred into the Crypts. Heroes, great achievers in various fields, and anyone else who was either accomplished or extremely well-acknowledged were placed near the top of the Crypts, closest to the surface.

Then came soldiers, teachers, healers, and others who had served Rhel itself one way or another, as long as it was directly recognizable. Then came those working in various private sectors, such as the banks and other organizations. There was no specific nobility or aristocracy on Rhel, which was why Ryland was always of the opinion that there wasn't much of a class divide. It felt somewhat prophetic that their last exhibit in the museum was about the Crypts.

Ryland left the place feeling like he was missing something there. Maybe it would be clearer later, once he went to the Crypts themselves. For the time being, he had more important matters before the field trip to consider. Namely, the piece of himself he was seeking. Since arriving on Rhel, Ryland hadn't been entirely idle in that direction. Rhel was one of the most secure Realms in the entire cosmos, so it was unlikely there existed a piece of himself that could rise as a Calamity.

Yet, that didn't mean Ryland could remain happy with them just existing out there on their own. Thankfully, Yulkaviel had made progress in that regard. He was getting another piece of himself soon enough.

"There is a swamp that might be of interest," Yulkaviel was saying the day of the field trip, some time before they were to head out.

"A swamp, you say?" Ryland pondered the revelation.

"That is intriguing and also a bit concerning."

"Concerning?" Yulkaviel asked. Ryland had already told the Second High Adjutant a decent amount of what he intended to accomplish here on Rhel. In fact, by this point, Yulkaviel knew about as much as Headmaster Alaric did. There was no point in hiding anything. Yulkaviel might actually know more about Ryland than he had revealed. All because the Second High Adjutant had strong sources to draw from. But the old elvhenan was nothing if not tactful, so he hadn't bothered revealing much at all.

He was still pretending to be mostly ignorant.

"It should be fine," Ryland said.

"Since it has been fine for this long, I doubt it's anything pressing." Though, recent experiences made him pause. The resurgence of the Flourinus Order did present a bit more danger, but then, it wasn't like anyone really lived near those swamps. If a Calamity suddenly arose out of nowhere, then things might become significantly more urgent, but Ryland would also take care of it in short order. Nevertheless, he decided he'd pay the swamp a visit after the field trip was done.

Yulkaviel took his position to address the students before they were to head out towards the Crypts. Everyone had gathered together to form neat lines, each one indicating a separate school. To the very left were the students from Arcoryx Academy on Vyrd. Next to them were the students from the Rhellian Institute. The Kuldoreans were a race of demons with the odd forgean and golemite here and there, wearing monochrome robes that were the standard at Eviliyen School.

And finally, the dragonkin from Jure were arrayed in the brilliant gold and silver uniforms of Jure's Shorn University. It was an impressive display. Ryland couldn't recall the last time all these students had gathered together in one place. That Rhel had been trusted with students from multiple Realms spoke of the influence they had garnered.

"Gathered students from Rhel and all our allied Realms who have honoured us with their presence," Yulkaviel said.

"I hope you enjoy our little field trip. Please conduct yourselves with the utmost grace and competence. And as a final warning—please be prepared for the little competition we will be partaking in at the Crypts. That will be all. Good luck!" Yulkaviel smiled at everyone's reactions of surprise. Even Ryland was taken a little aback. It looked like Rhel wanted the field trip to be even more exciting than the students had approximated it would be. They provided no further information just then.

Everyone would need to wait until they reached the Crypts to know what exactly this competition would involve. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The Second High Adjutant came over specifically to Ryland before they proceeded with the trip. They were meeting in private so there was no chance of being overheard.

"The First High Adjutant will come find you," he said.

"So there is no need for you to go to any extra effort, Ryland." Ryland recalled their last conversation. There was a definite point to why he was here, although his reception did leave quite a bit to be desired. Not that he could blame Yulkaviel for it. There was only so much one person could change by himself.

"Thank you," Ryland said eventually.

"I appreciate your efforts."

"Naturally, sub-Academ," Yulkaviel said. He offered a short but stately bow.

"We will do our best to accommodate your endeavours." They didn't speak any further. Ryland had been tempted to ask what specifics the Second High Adjutant had meant, but he had been called away for other business. Ryland looked over at Viren and Acrypha, who were in a heated discussion with the rest of their fellow Vyrdians. Fellow students from Arcoryx, rather. After all, there were students at Arcoryx who weren't from Vyrd. That student from Rhel had been sure to emphasize it in his little insulting tirade.

The Crypt was nestled in a valley laden with obelisks, each almost a hundred armspans high. Each was also constructed from the same hardened clay that the dead were interred in. It had come about as a certain Rhellian belief. Souls could move through clay, so by creating obelisks that reached into the sky, they would allow the spirits of the departed to reach the heavens far quicker than they would have on their own. Ryland found the thought fascinating.

The High Academ who had come in and stopped the Rhellian students assaulting Ryland made them all halt before the gate of the ruins that led into the Crypts.

"Students," he called out in a gonging voice that echoed across the area, bouncing off the broken walls and columns to ripple with the occasional echo.

"Today, we begin the competition that many of you have been looking forward to for a while now. We've always intended to keep the start as a surprise for you all because it provides the best opportunity to judge who you are right this moment."

"Yes, yes," said a dragonkin Academ from Jure rather testily.

"What's the competition about?" Despite the somewhat rudely-framed question, one couldn't truly blame him. There weren't a lot of people who appreciated the surprise.

"The idea is simple," High Academ Zevo said.

"In the interest of fairness, we are asking all students to simply return to the entrance of the ruin, right this spot where we are standing, a fistful of ash from the Dreadlich's burial chamber." The reaction to that was quite loud. Several people gasped and began talking with each other in hushed but concerned tones. And it wasn't just the Arcoryx or Eviliyen students. Everyone was chatting about it loudly, wondering what in the world was going on and why such a task would be set for them.

Because the Dreadlich was known even beyond Rhel by quite a few people. Ryland focused on the other part of Zevo's statement. In the interest of fairness. Right. Even the Rhellian students were terribly concerned, though they were trying hard to maintain a façade of discipline. The Academs present came up with several questions about what exactly was required, what would be provided, and so on. Ryland didn't say anything.

He just silently spent the time sorting the information that came in fits and starts due to the haphazard and chaotic nature of the conversation. Essentially, the Dreadlich's chamber was well hidden deep within the Crypts. Its location was legendary and unknown to basically everyone except for select, high-ranking individuals on Rhel. High Academ Zevo was not one of those individuals, despite his renown and power. The Academs could accompany their students into the Crypts.

There would be Crypt caretakers and clergy strewn throughout the entirety of it, just in case they were needed. All they actually needed to mind was the time limit—eight hours. Anyone who arrived after that time, even if they possessed the fistful of ash, wouldn't be considered a winner. But that was the thing. There could be multiple winners.

"Also in the interest of fairness," Zevo said.

"For every successful student who is not Rhellian, their success will count for twice the points of every successful Rhellian student." That brought on another round of gasps and loud murmurs. Surprisingly, the Rhellians didn't mind that near-handicap. They were a confident bunch. Of course, one had to wonder just how much of a surprise this was for the Rhellians, though their earlier reaction to the statement did make Ryland think that hadn't known about it before the reveal.

Maybe they were simply too well-disciplined to react overly negatively towards the handicap. High Academ Zevo even set down an hourglass as big as he was.

"Students and Academs. Feel free to conduct this search as you see fit. However, please understand that violence is highly discouraged. Academs, please join me in stopping any unruly behaviours by any students that we might spot. Competition though this may be, we still wish to foster a closer bond between us all." Ryland nodded back along with the rest of the Academs.

"I'm not nodding because I'm not even a sub-Academ," Sint muttered. Linsby rolled his eyes.

"Well, I for one intend to perform my duty to the best of my abilities."

"And what duty might that be?"

"Well, to prevent anything untoward from occurring." Linsby's glasses flashed.

"And to win, of course." Sint blinked. Then snickered. Ryland slowly smiled as well. He felt the faint stirs of excitement. If nothing else, this would be interesting. Because on the surface, it seemed a trivial matter if his rifts got involved. But he knew there was more to it than that.

"Any last questions?" High Academ Zevo asked. One of the students from Eviliyen School raised her hand.

"Is it haunted? Down there in the Crypts?" Viren raised his hand as well.

"I had the same question, High Academ."

"Hauntings are just one of many obstacles within the Crypts," Zevo said.

"You will face many others, so be prepared." He waited to see if there were any other questions, and when none came, he turned the hourglass over as sand began trickling down.

"Then, Academs and students, let us begin." Yulkaviel was trying not to count down the time to the moment he could leave. He had no wish to linger in the Vesper Fields for any longer than he really needed to. In fact, he hadn't wanted to come at all. But he was the Second High Adjutant. Certain duties just couldn't be handled by anyone else.

"You took your time." The voice rustled through the tall and swaying snow-grass. Yulkaviel took a quick breath before turning to face his guest.

"I was busy, Great Pious. I cannot be seen travelling to and from locations like these."

"Pish posh," Pious said. The short man waded through the white-tipped grass stalks until he was fully visible. Today, he had chosen to wear yet another garish combination of clothes. A purple coat and yellow trousers. Yulkaviel's eyes were ferociously offended.

"Do you not care for your faith? Do you not believe in the Great Gods? Have you nothing to hold close to your spirit?"

"Please, Great Pious, spare me the sermon." Yulkaviel didn't mean to be rude, just a bit brusque to get on with it.

"I am rather busy, as I've been stating."

"Of course, of course." The short man with a ruddy head began circling around Yulkaviel, a shark swimming around prey.

"I have suffered through several disappointments recently, my dear High Adjutant. The failure of an endeavour. The passing of a friend. My spirit suffers greatly. Would you be so kind as to give me a sliver of your time?" Yulkaviel refused to be moved. That terrible outfit really helped in that regard.

"I am here to hear you out and confirm your suspicions, yes." And if Kindly Mavar himself hadn't been involved, Yulkaviel wouldn't have been here either. It was a terrible state of affairs, but one had to do what one needed to. Great Pious tutted.

"Well, well. So this exchange semester of yours is already underway. And the rest of the plan is in place, I presume?"

"That is not for me to be concerned about. I need only know my part in all this and perform as needed."

"Of course. Always the stooge, as are all of your little Demiurge's followers." Yulkaviel highly detested Great Pious's tone, but he said nothing. This was neither the first nor the last time that the man would get away with such a thing. Yulkaviel needed to control himself, for now.

"Where are they all right now?" Great Pious asked.

"I believe they are to start their adventure in the Crypts today," Yulkaviel said. That had the short man stilling. Yulkaviel couldn't recall when, if ever, he had seen the man so shocked and surprised. It was a rather satisfying sight, truth be told.

"Whose idea was this?" Great Pious asked very quietly. There was a subtle, dangerous shift in the man's tone that made even Yulkaviel's spine tingle.

"I'm not certain. The location was determined by a vote from all the members of the academic administration at the institute. Picking out who exactly brought up the idea in the first place would be rather difficult." It was obvious Great Pious didn't really believe that, even though Yulkaviel really wasn't lying. He had to admit, however, that the idea had come from somewhere. Especially considering Pious's reaction to it. Apparently, there was nothing further to be said.

An ugly wound in reality opened up before them, and Pious was soon swallowed up by it. Yulkaviel finally allowed himself to grimace. Standing before a Wound Corridor always made him feel disgusted with himself. For now, Yulkaviel left too. Whatever else had happened or might happen in the future, he could remain proud of the fact that he had at least kept one thing to himself. Kindly Mavar was very much the one who had orchestrated this little trip into the Crypts.